Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-01

over the light or continental regions Their post
ton appears TO be tuvarfabie and permanent at
able to form BY tour and half years OF obser-
walton; nevertheless their aspect and their
aud depend upon circumstances which the
present state OF our knowledge does not yet permit
ISL as 70 discuss with certainty In 1872 many were
those that had already been seen were detected
again, accompanied by new ones. Several OF these
vague, shadow linen While others are clear and
snarp, IKE mark made 1y pen In general they
are rectiinear; that Is 70 say, drawn upon the
sphere as lines OF great circles. They cross one
another obllquely, or at right angles. They are
fully 90 broad, or 100 kilometers, and . number
Their color Is very dearly that Of the seas Of
Mars but trine lighter. Every canal ends at Its
TWO extremities In sea or 10 another canal; there
IS not single example Of one extremity ending In
the middle OF the solid land That is not ALL In
Certain seasons these canals split up, or rather be-
"This phenomenon appears TO occur ut q flxed
time time. and e produced simultaneously over the
whole extent OF the continents Of the planet. No
lnolcatl0n OF It was shown In 1877 during the
weeks which preceded and followed the southern
sostice Of that world. single isolated case was
year "a little before the spring equinox, which Oc-
CURED on the 21st OF January, 1S80) remarked
IN dividing Of The Nile between tRe Lake OF the
lar markings. equal ana parallel, caused me, ad-
mt, profound surprise, the greater because some
GAYS before the 23d and oath OF December. had
observed with care this same region without per.
ceiving anything OF the kind awaited with curl
oslty the return OF the planet In 1881 In order to
itself, and saw the same thing reappear the 11th
OF January, 1852, month after the spring eQui-
Mss s 81 'ns S. s
dent at the end or February On this same date
the I1tn Of january, another doubling manifested
Canal on the side OF the Elysee.
Greater yet was my establishment when, the
vld sl wary
curately into two straight, parallel lines travers-
Ing the space which separates the NiliLque Lake
be illusion, caused by fatigue OF the eye and a
sort OF strabismus OF . new kind; but one must
needs yieid 10 the evidence. After the 18th Of
January simply passed from one surprise to all
other; in succession the Orontes, The Eupnrates,
the Prison, the Ganyes, and most or the other
Canals showed themselves very clearly and incOn-
testibly split In two There were not less than
twenty examples OF doubling.
in certain cases II has been possible 10 observe
some precurSory symptoms which are not lacking
In interest. Thus tue 18th or January q light
and ll-dedned shade extended along the GangeS:
dns hStn ana isth only series OF wnite spots was
Itself In the form Of two indecisive parallel Ines
and the 2lst the doubling was perfectly clear, as
observed 1t up TO t"e sd OF February.
"Ihese douDllngs are not an optical effect de-
pending upon the increase or visual power as hap
pens Ia the observation OF double stars and neither
Is II the canal which divides Itself tn two length
wise. Notice what 1t Is that appears 10 the right
or left of pre-ext ting line. without any Change
III.
other line produced equal and parallel to the
first, at distance varying generally from six 10
twelve degrees, that Is to say, from $50 to 700
klometers; there even seem TO be some pro iuced
still nearer, but the telescope is not powerful
enough 10 enable one TO distinguish them with GER
tainty. Their tint Is rather dark reddish brown
These twin canals are rectilnear or very slightly
curved. There Is nothing analogous In terrestrial
geography. Everything puin.s 10 the belief that
IL Is peculiar periodical phenomenon OF the
planet Mars and Intimately related to the course
OF the seasons.
"Here, then. are the observed facts. The increase
In tue distance or the planet and the prevalence OF
rains prevented the c0atinuation OF the otserya-
lions after the end OF February. II is dlicult 10
decide quickly upon the nature OF that geography,
assurediy very diferent from that or our world W
NJ. ELIMINATION concludes, after quoting the &C.
count oy the discoverer given above:
"When we consider that we can perceive the
shores OF the seas and the mouths OF the great
rivers OF this neighbOr world, and tnat without a
divine the natural boundaries which NO doubt do
not separate but merely distinguish the Marian
nations from one another, the dearest wish that
see colossal telescope constructed by the aid OF
which we could take decisive step-while Wait
ing tor some yet unforeseen met .od OF conmun1ca-
tlon 10 put uS-and why not?-in correspondence
with our brothers OF the sky.
III the thousands OF millions that our foolish
standing armies were devoted TO science. what
giant steps would not be made in only quarter of
a century In the peaceful conquest Of the grand
"but progress is slow upon our planet At this
very moment Mars shines every evening In the
SKY, marking with his rudy light the ancient con-
stellation OF the Twins. How many chances are
cast upon him without a suspicion that there is a
world resembling ours; without The knowledge
tna1 tne eafth, seen from a1ar, would also appear
as star 10 the eyes OIL the Inhabitants OF Mars or
Venus! We are citizens Of the sky without know.
Ing H. ana We live us strangers In our own father.
landw
What fascinating interest these studies POSSESS
Tor the Intelligent mind! How much grander and
more attractive this b0undiesS universe appears
tQQumpraNlp ~
the abodes OF intellectual oetngs, similar In origin
nature and destiny To 20 We!